Discover why Ryan Reynolds isn't in R.I.P.D. 2 and what to expect from the franchise's future on an exciting journey through the Old West

The prequel explores the story of a team of R.I.P.D. agents in the Old West, dealing with cases of Deados, which are humans who have died and avoided judgment for their nefarious actions in life. These agents work tirelessly to protect the world of the living from these malevolent spirits. Although R.I.P.D. 2 is a prequel, it still maintains some key elements from the original story, such as the concept of Deados and the Rest in Peace Department. However, since it takes place before Reynolds' story, there's naturally no need to include his character, Nick Walker.

R.I.P.D. was a box office flop, so why a sequel?

It's true that the original R.I.P.D. was a box office flop, earning only $78.3 million compared to its production budget of over $150 million. However, the release of R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned suggests that Universal believes the franchise still has some value, even if it's not enough to justify another major box office hit.

What is the future of the R.I.P.D. franchise?

It's still unclear if there will be more sequels or prequels to the R.I.P.D. franchise after R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned. Perhaps, if the film is well-received by audiences and critics, Universal might reconsider bringing Ryan Reynolds back for future R.I.P.D. films. For now, we can only wait and see how the franchise unfolds. In summary, the absence of Ryan Reynolds in R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned is due to the film being a prequel set in the Old West, focused on a different team of R.I.P.D. agents, before the events of the original film. While the continuation of Ryan Reynolds as Nick Walker in the franchise isn't currently on the horizon, the release of this surprising sequel demonstrates that the R.I.P.D. series still has potential for the future. Source: Screenrant